Rarely does an author take time to explore the various angles of a sport from the athletes' perspective. Dave did a great job giving a clear picture of today's MMA athletes, from what motivates them as a whole to how they view themselves. It is an interesting and easy read for both the fan and the critic.- UFC XIII Champion and HDNet Fights President, Guy Mezger

Every fighter needs to read this book. If you want to have a future in MMA and know all the issues that MMA fighters deal with, you should read Fighting for Acceptance immediately.- Undefeated IFL Fighter and MMA trainer, Antonio McKee

Dr. Dave Mayeda's ground breaking book Fighting For Acceptance is a triumph and a must read! The Mixed Martial Arts phenomenon has exploded into the mainstream media with such tremendous force, that only a few men have paused to reflect on our responsibilities as spectators, promoters, and practitioners of this sport. In this book, Dave fearlessly tackles a wide range of sociological issues. He succeeds in both educating the public of MMA, while also demanding excellence and accountability from all those involved. Fighting for Acceptance is a bold and insightful look at MMA and its impact on society. Pick it up at Fighter's Corner today!- Steven 'The Soul Samurai' Saito

Listen to Luke Thomas, Editor of BloodyElbow.com and host of the Washington DC radio show MMANation, talk with Dr. Mayeda by clicking HERE. Luke read Fighting for Acceptance thoroughly before the interview, so it's a really good conversation (from 8/9/08; a few minutes into the show's segment).

Listen to MMA expert Mauro Ranallo talk with David Mayeda about MMA as it compares safety-wise to football, basketball, and soccer, media portrayals of MMA, and Fighting for Acceptance by clicking HERE. A fun and interesting discussion (from 12/12/08; 26 minutes into the show - fast forwarding available).

Listen to Chris Fries and The JDH discuss Fighting for Acceptance with Dr. Mayeda by clicking HERE. It's a good conversation weighing in on Kevin 'Kimbo Slice' Ferguson and other topics from the book (from 5/8/08; middle of show)

Jonathan Stamey talks with David Mayeda about the social ramifications of fighters making the fight more about violence than skill, and if MMA is indeed safer than boxing. Click HERE to navigate to the podcast (from 4/29/09).

Pramit Mohapatra and Brian Furby talk with David Mayeda about Dana White's use of homophobic hate speech directed at Sherdog.com reporter Loretta Hunt. Also on the show, Strikeforce CEO, Scott Coker. Click HERE to navigate to the podcast (from 4/2/09).

Feel the pain and hear the vivid voices as mixed martial artists discuss what it's like to be involved in America's fastest-growing sport.

In recent years, mixed martial arts (MMA), also known as 'ultimate fighting,' has become the fastest-growing sport in American society, but it is also considered the most controversial. Based on interviews conducted with forty mixed martial arts athletes, FIGHTING FOR ACCEPTANCE answers these and many other critical questions:

Who are the ultimate fighters?

How did they become involved in the sport?

What goes on in their heads while competing?

Do MMA fighters feel a social responsibility to preach nonviolence out of the sport?